US cattle feedlots see slight increase

Jul 25, 2024

USDA reports inventory rise, market adjustments

By Farms.com

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its latest cattle on feed report, indicating a modest increase in the cattle industry.

As of July 1, 2024, feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head housed 11.3 million cattle and calves on feed for slaughter, reflecting a 1% rise from the previous year.

This increase is divided between steers and heifers. Steers and steer calves saw a 1% rise, reaching 6.82 million head and making up 60% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves also experienced a slight increase, totaling 4.48 million head.

The report also highlights adjustments within the cattle industry. Placements in feedlots during June 2024 were 7% lower than June 2023, totaling 1.56 million head.

The marketing of fed cattle during June followed a similar trend, decreasing by 9% compared to the previous year and marking the second-lowest June marketing figure since record-keeping began.

These trends suggest ongoing adjustments within the cattle industry. While the overall inventory shows a small increase, placements and marketings indicate a cautious approach from producers.

The USDA data provides valuable insights for stakeholders in the cattle market, allowing them to make informed decisions.

Video: Learning to Wrench From Dad the Hard Way

Harvest is a week out and the farm picked this week to fall apart. The truck needs a battery, the barn curtain's got a problem, and the corn and beans are telling us we're out of time to get it all fixed.

So it's a full day of wrenching. Tork supervises while I get the truck back running, then we're out at the hog barn where one rusted up part has the whole curtain system hung up. Ladder work, cable work, and a little dad-and-son disagreement about the right way to do it. We close it out walking the fields, shelling beans and checking corn, because whether everything's fixed or not, harvest starts when harvest starts.

Chapters: 00:00 Everything breaks the week before harvest 01:00 Tork supervises while I fix the truck 12:30 Out to the barn to find the curtain problem 14:30 One rusty part hung up the whole curtain 20:00 Running the curtain cable from the ladder 24:00 Walking the beans and corn before harvest 26:30 Wrapping up

We're a 6th generation family farm in southeast Iowa showing the real ups and downs of pig farming and row crop farming. No script, just the work. Subscribe and follow along.

JOIN THE BARN TALK NEWSLETTER AND GET LIVE EVENT ACCESS: We're on a mission to hit 10,000 subscribers, and when we do, we're hosting a live event at the barn. Sign up for exclusive access to tickets and details.